(a) The Municipality encourages the preservation of quality and mature trees by providing credits toward the required trees for greenbelts, buffer strips, interior landscaping, and within parking lots. Trees intended to be preserved shall be indicated with a special symbol on the development plan and be protected during construction through the use of a fence around the drip line. Tree species, location, and caliper must be shown on the landscape plan. Tree protection measures must be shown and noted on the landscape plan.
(b) To obtain credit, the preserved trees shall be of a high quality and at least two and one half (2 1/2) inches caliper. Trees to be preserved shall be counted for credit only if they are located on the developed portion of the site as determined by the Commission. Any tree over twelve (12) inches in caliper to be removed shall be noted on the landscape plan.
The credit for preserved trees shall be as follows:
Caliper of Preserved Tree (in inches) | Number of Trees Credited |
over 12 | 3 |
8 to 12 | 2 |
2 ½ to 8 | 1 |
Note: Caliper measurements for existing trees is the diameter at a height of four and one-half (4 1/2) feet above the natural grade.
(c) Any preserved trees receiving credit which are lost within two (2) years after construction shall be replaced by the landowner with trees otherwise required by this Ordinance.
(Ord. 1166. Passed 9-24-01.)